Two Liberty robberies occur in the daytime

Two Liberty robberiesoccur in the daytime LIBERTY -- Police are investigating two robberies that occurred Thursday. A delivery driver for Papa John's Pizza, 3175 Belmont Ave., told police he pulled into a parking lot at Colonial and Frederick drives shortly before 5:30 p.m. when the muffler fell off his car. Two men approached and robbed him at knifepoint of an undisclosed amount of cash. About 11:30 a.m., a sales-delivery driver for New Dawn Distribution Co., 1282 Trumbull Ave., was near the company when a man approached, beat him and took $60. The driver had face, chest and rib injuries. Station loses advertiser YOUNGSTOWN -- The law firm of Dann and Falgiani has pulled its radio advertisements from WKBN-AM because of the station's decision to allow U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. to be host of its morning show next week. "I don't think the station is making the right decision for the community," said Marc Dann, who has had a business relationship with WKBN for 10 years. Dann's law firm spent about $500 a month on WKBN advertisements including one ad that runs on the station's morning show, typically helmed by Dan Ryan. Traficant, who faces 10 felony counts including bribery, racketeering and tax evasion, will fill in for Ryan for four days next week beginning Tuesday. Bill Kelly, vice president and marketing manager for Clear Channel Radio Youngstown, which owns WKBN, said, "Because of pending legal actions which involve Mr. Dann's law firm, I do not feel it is proper to comment about anything Mr. Dann or his law firm does." Sentenced to prison YOUNGSTOWN -- Bruce Hicks, 23, of Kensington Avenue, was sentenced Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to three years in prison for sexual battery. Judge Maureen A. Cronin gave him credit for 340 days he's served in the county jail. Assistant Prosecutor Deena Calabrese said Hicks had sexual contact with a 15-year-old female relative at his home in June 2000. Faces 15 years YOUNGSTOWN -- John F. Wayne, 70, of Colwyn Court, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Judge Jack Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He had pleaded guilty to three counts of gross sexual imposition. Judge Durkin also ruled Wayne is a sexual predator, which means Wayne will have to register his whereabouts with authorities in his community for the rest of his life. Suspected crack found YOUNGSTOWN -- A 23-year-old man was arrested Thursday afternoon on Otis Street after police found he was carrying 26 plastic bags of suspected crack. Officers approached the Oxford Avenue man when they noticed he was on property owned by the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority. The YMHA has a restraining order preventing the man from entering their property. The man walked away from police as they approached. The drugs were found in his front pants pocket. Robbery at Burger King YOUNGSTOWN -- A manager at Burger King, 3525 Mahoning Ave., told police she was robbed by a skinny teen-age boy about 5:30 p.m. Thursday as she walked out of the restaurant with a bank deposit bag. The woman said that when she walked toward her car, the boy, who had been standing in the parking lot, approached her with a gun and demanded the money. The boy took the bag and ran through the Mahoning Plaza. Police recovered a green hooded sweat shirt and blue stocking cap the boy had removed as he ran. Liberty road to close LIBERTY -- Anderson-Morris Road will be closed about 100 yards east of Crain Drive Tuesday through Thursday while a culvert is replaced. The Trumbull County Engineer's Office recommends that motorists detour along Stillwagon Road, Niles-Vienna Road, Smith-Stewart Road, Pleasant Valley Road and Oriel-Rogers Road.